Dispenser cartons



p 1955 R. J. HENNESSEY 3,207,380

DISPENSER CARTONS Filed Aug. 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l ll/I INVENTOR Russ! J. Hf/V/VL-SSEY ATTORNEY p 21, 1965 R. J. HENNESSEY 3,207,380

DISPENSER CARTONS Filed Aug. 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Russia J. Ham/essay F/G. 7 m

A TTOR/VEY United States Patent 3,207,380 DISPENSER CARTONS Russell J. Hennessey, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Aug. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 305,069 4 Claims. (Cl. 222183) This invention relates to an improvement in dispenser cartons and deals particularly with a carton to which may be used as a shipping carton for bulk parts and the like and which may be opened up to permit the parts to be removed one at a time.

Many large manufacturing plants have assembly areas where each individual adds a few standard parts to an assembly or subassembly. These parts are often supplied in cartons of one type or another which may be arranged so that the top may be removed or opened up and the enclosed parts removed one at a time through the open top of the box. In other instances, the parts are dumped into open topped trays from which they may be removed. This arrangement has the advantage that the parts may be more easily removed. However, it also has the disadvantage of requiring additional equipment and also has the disadvantage that once the parts have been placed in the trays, they are also open to dust and dirt which may be in the air. Furthermore, with this arrangement it is somewhat easier to mix up the parts by accidentally dropping some of the parts into the wrong tray as they are being removed. It is the object of the present invention to provide a carton which permits the dispensing of the goods from the bottom of the carton so that the parts are readily accessible and which may be reclosed if desired to protect the contents. 7

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision in an outer carton which is of generally conventional form but which is provided with a removable section capable of being torn away. Within this outer carton, I provide a partial liner which includes a spout of channel shaped section which lies inwardly of the removable section of the outer container. By removing the removable portion of the outer carton, the spout may be engaged and folded forwardly to an inclined position from the bottom of the carton. Certain of the carton contents will drop into this spout from which they may be readily removed. As the parts are removed, more of the parts will continually drop into the spout until the carton is virtually empty.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the spout may be reclosed whenever desired to protect the parts from dust and dirt. This arrangement is also useful in conjunction with parts which are not continually used, as the cartons may be returned to storage between periods of use.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carton as it is supplied.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the carton showing the spout in dispensing.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view through the carton, the position of the section being indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on a plane at right angle to that of FIGURE 3, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the carton liner in folded condition, a portion of the structure being broken away to better illustrate the parts.

3,207,389 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 "ice FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the outer carton is formed.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton liner is formed.

The dispensing package A is made up of the outer carton B and the carton liner C, these parts being best illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawing respectively. The outer carton B includes a side wall 10, an end wall 11, a side wall 12, and an end wall 13 connected by fold lines 14, 15, and 16 respectively. A glue flap 17 is connected to an end panel of the series, such as the side wall 10, by a fold line 19. The fold lines which have been described are parallel.

The upper edges of the respective walls are defined by a fold line 20 while the lower edges of the walls are defined by a parallel fold line 21, the fold lines 20 and 21 intersecting the previously described fold lines at right angles. Closing flaps 22, 23, 24, and 25 are hinged to the upper and lower edges of the wall panel 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively along the fold lines 20 and 21. The flaps 23 and 25 at each end of the carton are designed to fold into a common plane, and the fiaps 22 are arranged to fold over the inner flaps 23 and 25. A tuck flap 26 is foldably connected to each flap 22 along a fold line 27, the tuck flaps being designed to extend between the edges of the first folded flaps 23 and 25 and the side wall 12. The flaps 24 are of trapezoidal shape with the wide parallel side of the trapezoid hinged to the panel 12. A locking tongue 29 is hinged to the end of each flap 24 along a fold line 30, and the locking tongues 29 are designed to extend through slots 31 which extend along the fold lines 20 and 21 between the side wall 10 and the closing flaps 22.

The lower portion of the end wall 11 includes a pair of removable panels 32 and 33 which are separated by a perforated line 34 interrupted intermediate its ends with a finger aperture 35. A perforated line 36 forms the upper edge of the removable portions 33 and a perforated line 37 which extends along the fold 21 defines the lower edge thereof. The ends of the transverse perforated lines 36 land 37 are connected by perforated lines 39 and 40 which extend along the fold lines 14 and 15.

The carton liner C includes a bottom panel 41 hingedly connected along parallel fold lines 42 and 43 to wall liner panels 44 and 45 respectively. The upper edge of the panel 44 is provided with a flange 46 hingedly connected thereto along the fold line 47. The wall panels 44 and 45 are of approximately the same height as the wall panels 10 to 13 previously described, and are also of substantially the same width as the side wall panels 10 and 12. The bottom wall 41 is hingedly connected to a spout base 49 along a fold line 48 at right angles to the fold lines 42 and 43. The sides of the spout base 49 are hingedly connected along a pair of parallel fold lines 50 to spout wings 51. The wings 51 include arcuate edge sections 52, the center of arcuation being substantially at the junction between the fold lines 48 and 50. At the ends of the arcuate portions 52, the spout wings project to form abutment shoulders 53 which extend radially from the center of arcuation of the arcuate edges 52.

The carton liner C is folded as is best indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. The spout base 49 is folded upwardly from the base panel 41 and the spout wings 51 are folded along the fold lines 50 to overlie the side edges of the base panel 41. The walls 44 and 45 are folded upwardly into parallel relation and the flange 46 is bent into right angular relation to the wall 44. When in this position, it may be inserted into the carton B.

The carton B is closed in the same manner at each end, the flaps 23 and 25 being folded into a common plane, and the flap 22 folded to overlie the flaps 23 and 25, the tuck flaps 26 being inserted between the edges of the flaps 23 and 25 and the wall. These flaps 26 also tuck between the panel 44 of the carton liner and the wall 12, the flange 46 forming a rounded edge over which the upper of the two flanges may pass. The locking tongue 29 of the last closing flap 24 is tucked through a corresponding slot 31, the lower tongue extending between the wall 45 and the carton wall 12 and the upper locking tongue 29 extending into the notch 55 formed in the upper edge of the wall 45. The notch 55 is provided to prevent lnterference between the tongue and the liner.

When it is desired to use the carton contents, a fingernail or a flat blade is inserted through the aperture 35 to engage one of the removable portions 32 and 33. These portions are pulled outwardly, first tearing along the perforated lines 36 and 37, and then tearing along the other perforated lines 39 and 40. The upper edge of the base portion 49 of the scoop or spout is generally aligned with the perforated line 36 but a short ear 56 projects upwardly to slightly overlap the upper of the end wall 11. By inserting a fingernail or blade between the upper portion of the base 49 of the spout and pulling outwardly, the paperboard will flex sufiiciently to permit the spout to be hinged into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Certain of the contents of the carton will fall into the spout from which they can be easily removed. The ear 56 forms a locking tab if the carton is reclosed as indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my dispensing carton; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A dispensing carton including an outer enclosure including four rectangularly arranged connected wall panels, and top and bottom closures,

one said wall panel including a removable area defined by rectangularly arranged weakened lines of separation extending the full Width thereof and only partial the height thereof adjoining the bottom closure,

a carton liner including a bottom panel substantially coextensive with said bottom closure, parallel liner wall panels hinged to said bottom panel and lying in face contact with two opposed wall panels of said outer enclosure adjoining said one wall panel,

said liner wall panels being substantially coextensive with the wall panels they contact,

a spout structure including a base panel hinged to said bottom panel and lying inwardly of, and substantially coextensive with, said removable area of said one wall panel of said outer enclosure,

side wings hinged to the parallel side edges of said base panel and lying inwardly of said two opposed wall panels of said outer enclosure,

said side wings having arcuate edge portions having their centers of arcuation substantially at the line of hinge connecting said base panel to said bottom panel,

said side wings having abutment shoulders extending radially outwardly from said arcuate edges to engage said one wall panel of said outer enclosure upon outward swinging of said base panel,

one of said liner Wall panels includes a flange hinged to the upper edge thereof underlying said top closure,

said top closure includes a pair of flap hinged t id one wall panel and the opposite wall panel and folded into a common plane,

a closure flap hinged to one of said two opposed wall panels and including a tuck flap extending between said one liner wall panel and the adjacent wall panel of the outer enclosure,

a closure flap on the other of said two opposed wall panels including a locking tongue, and

a slot adjoining the juncture of one of said two opposed wall panels and the closure flap secured thereto through which said locking tongue may extend.

2. A dispensing carton including a generally rectangular outer carton including side and end walls and top and bottom closures,

one of said walls including a removable area extending the full width of said one wall adjoining the bottom closure and being defined by weakened lines of separation,

said removable area including four rectangularly arranged connected weakened lines of, separation, 21 fifth weakened line connecting two opposed of said four rectangularly arranged weakened lines of separation, and said area including a finger aperture intersecting said fifth weakened line,

a liner within said carton including a bottom panel overlying said bottom closure, and a spout structure hingedly connected to said bottom panel along an edge thereof,

said spout structure including a base panel hinged along one edge to said bottom panel, and side wings hinged to opposite edges of said base panel along lines at substantially right angles to said one edge thereof,

said base panel being substantially coextensive with, and inwardly of, said removable area, and means on said side wings limiting outward pivotal movement of said base panel.

3. A dispensing carton including an outer enclosure including four rectangularly arranged connected wall panels, and top and bottom closures,

one said wall panel including a removable area defined by rectangularly arranged weakened lines of separation extending the full width thereof and only partial the height thereof adjoining the bottom closure,

a carton liner including a bottom panel substantially coextensive with said bottom closure, parallel liner Wall panels hinged to said bottom panel and lying in face contact with two opposed wall panels of said outer enclosure adjoining said one wall panel,

said liner wall panels being substantially coextensive with the Wall panels they contact,

the upper edges of said liner panels engageing said top closure and holding said bottom panel against said bottom closure,

a spout structure including a base panel hinged to said bottom panel and lying inwardly of, and substantially coextensive with, said removable area of said one wall panel of said outer enclosure,

side wings hinged to the parallel side adges of said base panel and lying inwardly of said two opposed wall panels of said outer enclosure,

said side wings having arcuate edge portions having their centers of arcuation substantially at the line of hinge connecting said base panel to said bottom panel,

said side wings having abutment shoulders extending radiallyputwardly from said arcuate edges to engage said one wall panel of said outer enclosure upon outward swinging of said base panel.

4. A dlspensing carton including an outer enclosure including four rectangularly arranged connected wall panels, and top and bottom closures,

one said wall panel including a removable area defined by rectangularly arranged weakened lines of separation extending the full width thereof and only partial the height thereof adjoining the bottom closure,

said removable area also including a fifth weakened line of separation extending between two opposed of said rectangularly arranged weakened lines of separation, and said area including a finger aperture i t sectmg said fifth weakened line,

a carton liner including a bottom panel substantially coextensive with said bottom closure, parallel liner wall panels hinged to said bottom panel and lying 5 6 in face contact with two opposed wall panels of said said side wings having abutment shoulders extending outer enclosure adjoining said one wall panel, radially outwardly from said arcuate edges to engage said liner wall panels being substantially coextensive said one Wall panel of said outer enclosure upon with the wall panels they contact, outward swinging of said base panel.

a spout structure including a base panel hinged to said bottom panel and lying inwardly of, and substantially 5 References Cited by the Examiner coextensive with, said removable area of said one UNITED STATES PATENTS wall panel of said outer enclosure, 2 143 957 1/39 Fetter 229 38 X side wings hinged to the parallel side edges of said 2 340 976 2/44 Nevins base panel and lying inwardly of said two opposed 10 2,556,707 6/51 Randall et aL wall panels of said outer enclosure, 2 5 3,725 9/51 Fey said side wings having arcuate edge portions v g 2,684,792 7/54 Kraus 222-531 X their centers of arcuation substantially at the line of 2,907,512 10/59 Leone 222-457 X hinge connecting said base panel to said bottom anel, 15 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING CARTON INCLUDING AN OUTER ENCLOSURE INCLUDING FOUR RECTANGULARLY ARRANGED CONNECTED WALL PANELS, AND TOP AND BOTTOM CLOSURES, ONE SAID WALL PANEL INCLUDING A REMOVABLE AREA DEFINED BY RECTANGULARLY ARRANGED WEAKENED LINES OF SEPARATION EXTENDING THE FULL WIDTH THEREOF AND ONLY PARTIAL THE HEIGHT THEREOF ADJOINING THE BOTTOM CLOSURE, A CARTON LINER INCLUDING A BOTTOM PANEL SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID BOTTOM CLOSURE, PARALLEL LINER WALL PANELS HINGED TO SAID BOTTOM PNALE AND LYING IN FACE CONTACT WITH TWO OPPOSED WALL PANELS OF SAID OUTER ENCLOSURE ADJOINING SAID ONE WALL PANEL, SAID LINER WALL PANELS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH THE WALL PANELS THEY CONTACT, A SPOUT STRUCTURE INCLUDING A BASE PANEL HINGED TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND LYING INWARDLY OF, AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH, SAID REMOVABLE AREA OF SAID ONE WALL PANEL OF SAID OUTER ENCLOSURE, SIDE WINGS HINGED TO THE PARALLEL SIDE EDGES OF SAID BASE PANEL AND LYING INWARDLY OF SAID TWO OPPOSED WALL PANELS OF SAID OUTER ENCLOSURE, THEIR CENTERS OF ARCUATION SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE LINE OF HINGE CONNECTING SAID BASE PANEL TO SAID BOTTOM PANELS, SAID SIDE WINGS HAVING ABUTMENT SHOULDERS EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ARCUATE EDGES TO ENGAGE SAID ONE WALL PANEL OF SAID OUTER ENCLOSURE UPON OUTWARD SWINGING OF SAID BASE PANEL, ONE OF SAID LINER WALL PANELS INCLUDES A FLNGE HINGED TO THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF UNDERLYING SAID TOP CLOSURE, SAID TOP CLOSURE INCLUDES A PAIR OF FLAPS HINGED TO SAID ONE WALL PANEL AND THE OPPOSITE WALL PANEL AND FOLDED INTO A COMMON PLANE, A CLOSURE FLAP HINGED TO ONE OF SAID TWO OPPOSED WALL PANELS AND INCLUDING A TUCK FLAP EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ONE LINER WALL PANEL AND THE ADJACENT WALL PANEL OF THE OUTER ENCLOSURE, A CLOSURE FLAP ON THE OTHER OF SAID TWO OPPOSED WALL PANELS INCLUDING A LOCKING TONGUE, AND A SLOT ADJOINING THE JUNCTURE OF ONE OF SAID TWO OPPOSED WALL PANELS AND THE CLOSURE FLAP SECURED THERETO THROUGH WHICH SAID LOCKING TONGUE MAY EXTEND. 